Maximum Leadership 2000

An inside look at the world's most powreful business leaders.

From Charles M. Farkas and Philippe De Backer, directors of the internationally renowned consulting firm Bain & Co., comes Maximum Leadership -- a fascinating report that answers the question: What in the world do CEOs do all day to make those multi-million-dollar salaries?

Coca-Cola, Gilette, Nestle, Canon: from computers to health care, from banking to advertising, these are some of the biggest names in business, ringing up billions of dollars in sales each year -- and behind each corporation is a CEO. Like the Wizard of Oz behind his curtain, these men and women at the top inspire both awe and skepticism.

In the summer of 1994, Farkas and De Backer began to interview the heads of 163 multinational companies. Instead of stock answers and puffery, they found CEOs willing to spend hours providing details, honesty, and reams of data. Here are the five management approaches the authors discovered not as quick remedies for success, but instead to show you the range of ways CEOs choose to contribute to their companies.

No matter where you are in the corporation, this riveting study will provide unique insight into how organizations are run and how you can add value to them.

Charles M. Farkas is a director of Bain & Company.